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Two goals from Jamie Vardy ensured Leicester won at the Stadium of Light to pile more pressure on Spurs in the Premier League title race.
This meant Vardy became the first Leicester player to score over 20 top flight goals in a single season since Gary Lineker in 1984-85.
Claudio Ranieri’s side entered the game knowing four more wins would secure the title and the three points at Sunderland would take them ten clear before Spurs faced Manchester United.
After a goalless first half the Foxes scored midway through the second period; in typical fashion Danny Drinkwater drove the ball over the top to Vardy who calmly finished into the bottom corner, similar to his first against Arsenal back in September.
Sunderland began to push and had a real chance through Jack Rodwell but the midfielder fired his effort over from no more than eight yards out.
The key point in the game was Ranieri’s decision to bring on Leonardo Ulloa as the partnership allowed Vardy to threaten just one of the Black Cats’ defenders.
As it looked like Leicester were heading for yet another victory by a 1-0 scoreline, Vardy turned on the accelerator again to double the Foxes’ lead.
Substitute Demarai Gray gave the ball to the England international who used sheer pace to beat Patrick Van Aanholt and Vito Mannone before finding the empty net.
It was another complete Leicester performance as they were ruthless in attack and as solid as ever in defence.
N’Golo Kante proved again why he is one of the highest-rated midfielders on the continent. The French international became the first player to win more than 100 tackles in any of Europe’s top five leagues.
In preventing Sunderland from scoring, Leicester have now kept five consecutive top flight clean sheets for the first time in the club’s history.
Sam Allardyce’s side remain four points adrift of safety with a game in hand after this defeat.
Leicester are now just three wins away from securing the Premier League title as all eyes turn to Spurs’ encounter with United.
